LifeAudio

Today’s guest is someone whose voice has shaped the soundtrack of Christian rock for more than four decades. You probably know John Schlitt as the lead singer of Petra, one of the most influential Christian bands of all time. But his story is much bigger than chart-topping albums and sold-out concerts. It’s a story about redemption, calling, and discovering that God has a purpose for every season of your life. As someone who has been listening to and enjoying Petra's music for quite some time, I am extremely excited to welcome John to the show today.

John Schlitt: https://johnschlitt.com/

Petra: https://petraband.com/ 

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Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

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If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When I was in 3rd grade, I was blamed for something I didn’t even do—all because of the friends I was hanging around. That experience left a lasting impression: who we walk with shapes where we go.

In this short but powerful episode, we explore Proverbs 13:20 — “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” The people closest to us influence our hearts, our habits, and our spiritual direction—sometimes without us even realizing it.

Whether it’s friends, coworkers, or voices you follow online, your circle has the power to either strengthen your walk with Jesus or slowly pull you off course.

Takeaways:

• Your friends shape your reputation—and your direction.

• Proverbs 13:20 reminds us that wisdom is contagious, but so is foolishness.

• You can’t always choose your environment, but you can choose your influences.

• Surround yourself with people who point you back to Christ.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Our homes are shaped by what—and who—we draw near to most. Psalm 145:18 reminds us that the Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth, and when we intentionally seek His presence, it changes not only our hearts but the atmosphere of our homes. As we draw closer to Jesus individually and together as families, the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident in our lives—bringing peace where there was tension, joy where there was weariness, and love where there was frustration. No matter our stage of life, prioritizing time with the Lord invites Him to transform our attitudes, relationships, and daily rhythms.

Main Takeaways

• You’ll learn why drawing near to Jesus personally impacts the spiritual health of your home.

• Discover how time spent in God’s presence produces the fruit of the Spirit in everyday life.

• Understand why shared prayer and Scripture reading strengthen families spiritually.

• Reflect on practical ways to prioritize faith amid busy schedules.

• Be encouraged that seeking the Lord together brings lasting peace, joy, and renewed perspective.

Bible Verse References

• Psalm 145:18 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/145-18.html

• Psalm 16:11 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/psalms/16-11.html

• Galatians 5:22 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/galatians/5-22.html

• 1 Corinthians 13 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/1-corinthians/13.html

• Jeremiah 29:13 – https://www.biblestudytools.com/jeremiah/29-13.html

Your Daily Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise that when we seek You, we will find You. Help us draw near to You each day and reorient our lives so You remain at the center of our homes and hearts. Teach us to surrender control and trust You fully, allowing Your love, peace, and joy to shape our families. May our time with You never feel rushed or wasted, but treasured and life-giving. Help our love for You and for one another grow deeper as we walk closely with You.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“They Don’t Know What They’re Signing”: The Student Debt Trap

In this episode of The Real Deal with Abby and Regan meets real life decisions: college, trades, and calling. Abby and Regan talk about why so many teens are pushed into student debt before they even understand what they’re signing, why we’re “no student loans” moms, and how to help your kids find a path that fits their God-given gifts—whether that’s college, trade school, military, or beyond.

Plus: the importance of choosing a campus that aligns with your family’s values, spiritual formation, and the launch-year reality every mom feels.

In this episode:

• The student loan trap (and why teens can’t grasp the burden yet)

• College vs. trades vs. military: helping kids find their lane

• Paying for college with scholarships + realistic planning

• Why values + formation matter as much as a degree

• “Equally yoked” and the long game of faith + family

Want to collab with Abby & Regan and reach 707,000+ parents?

https://www.reganlong.com/new-page-3

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

“We can think and act our way to a new feeling. We cannot feel our way to a new way of thinking and acting.”

That line from therapist and author Nicole Zasowski cuts to the heart of anxiety, addiction, and the stories we tell ourselves when life feels uncertain. Nicole is the author of What If It’s Wonderful?—a book built around a disarming and deeply important question: What if, instead of bracing for the worst, we allowed ourselves to hope?

In this conversation, Nicole shares how a season marked by loss, miscarriage, and prolonged uncertainty exposed her own coping mechanisms—performance, control, and pessimism disguised as realism. She explains why catastrophizing isn’t just negative thinking but a form of control, and why preparing for the worst often robs us of joy without actually protecting us from pain.

We also explore the connection between shame and escape, how feelings can be real without being true, and why naming what’s happening inside us is essential for healing. Nicole offers practical ways to interrupt shame cycles, retrain the brain toward hope, and steward pain without glorifying it. This episode is an invitation to tell ourselves a truer story—about who God is, who we are, and what might still be possible.

We explore:

— Why catastrophizing feels responsible but quietly fuels anxiety
— How the brain learns fear faster than hope
— The difference between feelings that are real and thoughts that are true
— Why shame often drives both anxiety and addictive behaviors
— How performance and control masquerade as faith
— What miscarriage and unresolved grief revealed about Nicole’s inner life
— Why hope is not denial, but courage
— Practical ways to retrain anxious thought patterns
— How naming internal experiences leads to healing
— What it looks like to tell a truer story about God and ourselves

Website: https://www.nicolezasowski.com

Books: What It's Wonderful? and Daring Joy

Follow Nicole on Instagram: @nicolezasowski

Follow Jon: @jonseidl

Order Jon's new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

Get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com

Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today’s Bible Verse: “Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.” — Luke 1:78

Luke 1:78 reveals that God’s rescue story begins with mercy, not judgment. Advent reminds us that Jesus didn’t arrive with force or fanfare but as light rising slowly over a weary world. This verse highlights the compassion behind Christ’s coming—the kind of mercy that moves toward brokenness and brings hope where darkness has lingered.

Meet Today’s Host: Carol Ogle McCracken

️ Listen to more daily devotionals with Carol at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio

Carol Ogle McCracken is a dynamic Christian speaker, author, and Bible teacher known for her warmth, humor, and transparency. She brings biblical truths to life through real-world stories and relatable experiences—whether navigating alcohol recovery, parenting a child with special needs, or walking through divorce.

Today, she serves as Minister of Discipleship at her local church and shares God’s Word through women's retreats, conferences, and online devotionals. Her book, Wisdom: Where to Find It if You’ve Lost, Forgotten, or Never Had It, was released in 2020 and continues to encourage readers in their pursuit of godly wisdom.

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In case you didn't hear the good news already, I am expecting my first child! I am excited to embark on this new journey of motherhood. God has already been growing me in so many ways, not just my pant size. In this week's episode, I share my story of learning I'm pregnant, what God's been teaching me amid the joy of this good news and the tension of grief, and what to expect here on the podcast as I ramp up for motherhood.

ORDER MY BOOK HERE: https://a.co/d/0vE5Cji

PRINT OUT MY FREE "SHAME CYCLE WORKSHEET" HERE: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/shamecycleworksheet

CHECK OUT MY FREE RESOURCES: https://kirbykelly.myflodesk.com/kirbykelly 

For 10% off of Faithful Counseling, and to start your healing journey today, go to: https://www.faithfulcounseling.com/kirbykelly

To sponsor a child in need alongside me with Compassion International, go to: https://www.compassion.com/kirbyisaboss  

Support the ministry!: https://kirby-kelly.com/checkout/donate?donatePageId=5d23856d41ec3a0001234376

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Can we be honest? This season that's supposed to be filled with joy often feels more like exhaustion and overwhelm. Maybe you're bone-deep weary, wondering if hope is even real anymore.

In this episode, Rachel explores what to do when hope has crumbled and prayer feels impossible. Drawing from the Christmas story of Simeon and Anna and her own journey through her daughter Taylor's battle with Sanfilippo syndrome, she shares how our most desperate places become the most fitting spaces for the thrill of hope.

You'll discover:

• Three practical ways to pray when hope has crumbled
• The difference between wishful thinking and confident expectation
• What Simeon and Anna teach us about actively waiting for God
• How God provides before we even know to pray
• Where to look for Jesus when life doesn't feel magical

Whether you're in a season of waiting, grieving, or simply exhausted from trying to hold it all together, this episode will remind you that Hope has come and He meets you right where you are.

Resources Mentioned:

For non-profit Christmas giving project: Wilderness Grace: wildernessgrace.com

Desperate Prayers: desperateprayers.com

Praying the Promises of God Prayer Journal: promisesprayerjournal.com

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.